U.S. patent number 5,067,862 [Application Number 07/359,308] was granted by the patent office on 1991-11-26 for unitary carrying assembly or unit for motor-car trailer vehicles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Lohr Industrie, S.A.. Invention is credited to Jean-Luc Andre.
United States Patent |
5,067,862 |
Andre |
November 26, 1991 |
Unitary carrying assembly or unit for motor-car trailer
vehicles
Abstract
Unitary carrier assembly distinguished in that each individual
platform (9) is mounted movable with regard to its two supporting
posts (2) and (3) by a carrier and lifting mechanism present
between each post and each platform comprising a translation device
(7) or (8) on a single screw (5) or (6) per post and for each post
an articulation with the platform and at least one slanting
articulated linkage (13) connecting the platform to the translation
device. This invention is of interest particularly to builders of
transport equipment.
Inventors: |
Andre; Jean-Luc (Dangolsheim,
FR) |
Assignee: |
Lohr Industrie, S.A. (Les
Coteaux, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
9366896 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/359,308 |
Filed: |
May 31, 1989 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
May 31, 1988 [FR] |
|
|
88 07385 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
410/26; 410/8;
410/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
3/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
3/08 (20060101); B60P 3/06 (20060101); B60P
003/08 (); B61D 003/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;410/4,6,8,3,15,24,24.1,26,27,29.1 ;414/228,229,230,477,478,495,537
;254/102 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peters, Jr.; Joseph F.
Assistant Examiner: Mojica; Virna Lissi
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schwartz & Weinrieb
Claims
I claim:
1. A support assembly, comprising:
a pair of laterally spaced upstanding support posts (3,4);
a platform (9) interposed between said laterally spaced upstanding
support posts (3,4);
first means (14) operatively connected to said platform (9) at a
first location (A) upon said platform (9) and movable along said
posts (3,4) so as to permit movement of said platform (9) with
respect to said posts (3,4);
second means (13) having one end thereof movably mounted upon said
posts (3,4) at a second location (B) which is spaced upon said
posts (3,4) a first distance (AB) from said first location (A) of
said first means (14) upon said platform (9), and a second end
thereof operatively connected to said platform (9) at a third
location (C) which is spaced a second distance (BC) from said
second location (B) of said one end of said second means (13)
movably mounted upon said posts (3,4);
drive means (5,6) operatively connected with said first means (14)
and said one end of said second means (13) for moving said first
means (14) and said one end of said second means (13) along said
support posts (3,4); and
means for defining said first and second distances (AB,BC) between
said first and second locations (A,B), and between said second and
third locations (B,C), so as to satisfy one of the relationships
wherein (1) said first distance (AB) is fixed while said second
distance (BC) is variable, (2) said first distance (AB) is variable
while said second distance (BC) is fixed, and (3) said first and
second distances (AB, BC) are both fixed, while said drive means
(5,6) is operatively driven so as to move said first means (14) and
said one end of said second means (13) along said support posts
(3,4) whereby the orientation and location of said platform (9)
relative to said posts (3,4) may be predeterminedly defined.
2. A support assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said platform is disposed upon an automotive transport vehicle for
supporting automotive vehicles.
3. A support assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said first means comprises means for pivotably mounting said
platform upon said posts; and
said second means comprises means for pivotably mounting said one
and second ends thereof upon said posts and said platform,
respectively.
4. A support assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said drive means comprises a rotatable screw disposed within each
one of said upstanding support posts.
5. A support assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
said one end of said second means comprises a nut operatively
connected to said rotatable screw so as to move translationally
along said posts as said rotatable screw is rotated by said drive
means.
6. A support assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein:
said first means comprises a sleeve slidable along said rotatable
screw; and
a limit linkage interconnects said nut and said sleeve within a
predetermined range of movement of said nut with respect to said
sleeve whereby said first distance is variable within said
predetermined range of movement.
7. A support assembly as set forth in claim 6, further
comprising:
second stop means disposed at an elevational level corresponding to
an upper end region of said support posts so as to engage an end
portion of said platform adjacent to said first location of said
first means when said platform is elevated along said posts so as
to orient said platform with a predetermined amount of inclination
with respect to said posts.
8. A support assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
said first means comprises a nut operatively connected to said
rotatable screw so as to move translationally along said posts as
said rotatable screw is rotated by said drive means.
9. A support assembly as set forth in claim 8, further
comprising:
said one end of said second means comprises a sleeve slidable along
said rotatable screw; and
a cylinder fixedly interconnects said sleeve and said nut so as to
maintain said first distance fixed.
10. A support assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein:
said first means comprises a nut threadedly engaged with said
rotatable screw so as to move translationally along said posts,
along with said nut of said one end of said second means, as said
rotatable screw is rotated by said drive means whereby said first
distance is fixed.
11. A support assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein:
said first means comprises a nut selectively engageable and
disengageable with said rotatable screw so as to operatively
cooperate with said nut of said one end of said second means
whereby said first distance is selectively variable.
12. A support assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
said first means and said one end of said second means both
comprise nuts selectively engageable with and disengageable from
said rotatable screw so as to operatively cooperate with respect to
each other whereby said first distance is selectively variable.
13. A support assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said second means comprises an extensible telescopic rod whereby
said second distance is variable.
14. A support assembly as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising:
stop means disposed at an elevational level corresponding to a
lower end region of said support posts and a predetermined distance
from said support posts so as to engage a free end portion of said
platform remote from said first location of said first means when
said platform is lowered along said posts so as to orient said
platform with a predetermined amount of inclination with respect to
said posts.
15. A support assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said second means comprises a fixed rod whereby said second
distance is fixed.
16. A support assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said second means is inclined with respect to said support posts
such that said first, second, and third locations of said first
means, said one end of said second means, and said second end of
said second means, respectively, are arranged in a triangular
configuration.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a unitary carrier and lifting
assembly comprising at least one individual movable carrier
platform for constituting an automobile transport vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to the general characteristic of this unitary carrier
assembly, each individual platform is capable of transverse and
longitudinal movements with respect to the supporting posts and of
tilting movements with respect to the horizontal from a single
drive means proper to each individual platform.
The use of individual platforms provides greater flexibility in
loading and the possibility of overlapping the vehicles on one and
the same carrier.
However, to be able to derive all the benefits from this
characteristic, it is advisable, to obtain profitable loading, to
bring about all lifting positions and all inclinations from a
single mechanical control means in the simplest and fastest
way.
This is precisely the aim of the invention.
Presently existing individual carrier platforms are mounted so as
to be vertically movable by means of jacks along telescopic
assemblies or profiled rectangular elements forming part of a
structure, upon the base on which they rest.
The inclination of these platforms is fixed or secured by slanting
jacks, coupled with a sliding structure fixed by one of its ends to
the frame of the towing vehicle or of its trailer and by its other
end to upper framework elements.
The drawbacks of this type of individual platforms and of control
of their movements prove to be multiple:
all controls are effected by jacks, thus requiring a significant
increase in cost and necessitating a powerful hydraulic unit;
the very large lever arm requires the use of large-caliber
jacks;
each jack is duplicated by a sliding structure along which it is
displaced;
support of the slanting jacks must be dissociated from the sliding
structure in upward movement, resulting in the development of
difficulties in construction;
the hydraulic feed linkages of the jacks in working fluid
constitute a network of troublesome flexible hoses difficult to
install;
this network comprises slack hoses, representing some inconvenience
in operation and in access of personnel;
jacks are arranged with the stem projecting during transport. The
latter, exposed to the weather, to projections and to shocks, run
the risk of being damaged;
for large movements (upper level) the travel of single-extension
jacks proves to be insufficient; double-extension jacks, difficult,
heavy and breakable, must be used;
for other movements effected by simple-extension jacks, the latter
must be short in length.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks
and to propose a unitary carrier assembly having platforms movable
in multiple compound movements, characterized in that each
individual platform is mounted movable with respect to its two
supporting posts by a carrier and lifting mechanism present between
each post and each platform, comprising a translation device on a
single screw per post and for each post an articulation with the
platform and at least one articulated slanting linkage connecting
the platform to the translation device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Numerous advantages derive from the technical peculiarities of the
carrier assembly according to the invention, the principal ones of
which are indicated below:
possibility of multiple positions and inclinations by a single
operating means per post for all positions and inclinations;
simple embodiment;
mechanical strength;
possibility of effecting practically all overlaps between vehicles
at different levels;
use of an irreversible operating means does not require duplication
thereof for safety;
movements of displacement in lifting and in inclination are
continuously variable;
reliability is increased by the use of a single operating
means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be readily understood upon reading the
description that follows, made by way of non-limitative example, of
an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a general illustrative view in perspective of two carrier
assemblies pursuant to the invention, one comprising two movable
platforms in high position and in low position and the other one
movable platform in high position;
FIG. 2 is a simplified view in perspective of a post, of the
platform and of the lifting mechanism, according to a variant
having an upper nut and a lower translation sleeve, rigidly
interconnected, and a telescopic rod, with enlargement of the upper
nut;
FIG. 3 is the corresponding functional diagram illustrating two
extreme positions of the movable platform, one high and the other
low;
FIG. 4 is a simplified view in perspective of a post, of the
platform and of the lifting mechanism, according to a variant
having a lower nut and an upper translation sleeve, a variable
spacing assembly, and a rod of fixed length, with enlargement of
the translation sleeve;
FIG. 5 is a corresponding functional diagram illustrating two
extreme positions of the movable platform, one high and the other
low;
FIG. 6 is a simplified view in perspective of a post, of the
platform and of the lifting mechanism, according to a variant with
an upper disengageable nut, a lower plain nut and a rod of fixed
length, with enlargement of the disengageable nut;
FIG. 7 is a corresponding functional diagram illustrating the two
extreme positions of the movable platform, one high and the other
low;
FIG. 8 is a simplified view in perspective of a post, of the
platform and of the lifting mechanism, according to a variant
having two nuts and a rod of variable length;
FIG. 9 is the corresponding functional diagram illustrating two
extreme positions of the movable platform, one high and the other
low;
FIG. 10 is a simplified fiew in perspective of a post, of the
platform and of the lifting mechanism, according to a variant
having two nuts and a rod of fixed length;
FIG. 11 is the corresponding functional diagram illustrating two
extreme positions of the movable platform, one high and the other
low;
FIG. 12 is a simplified view in perspective of a post, of the
platform and of the lifting mechanism, according to a variant
having an upper nut and a lower translation sleeve, rigidly
interconnected, and a rod of fixed length;
FIG. 13 is a corresponding functional diagram illustrating the two
extreme positions of the movable platform, one high and the other
low;
FIG. 14 is a simplified view in perspective of a post, of the
platform and of the lifting mechanism, according to a variant
having two disengageable nuts and having a rod of fixed length
completed by a platform sliding mechanism made up of a plain nut
connected to the platform by a rod of fixed length;
FIG. 15 is a corresponding functional diagram illustrating one
position of the movable platform and, by means of arrows, various
possible displacements;
FIGS. 16 and 17 are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating
two examples of carrier assemblies with a single post and with a
double post;
FIGS. 18 and 19 are similar views, automobiles loaded.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The general inventive idea consists in providing, for a unitary
carrier assembly having two supporting posts, at least one platform
movable with respect to the posts, a platform whose movements are
controlled by a single external driving force through a connecting
mechanism and a rectilinear drive element proper to each post on
which the said mechanism is mounted. The positions and the
inclinations of high and low end of travel are predetermined by the
action of the connecting mechanism associated with the rectilinear
drive element and stops or points of support.
The general means utilized for implementing the general inventive
idea set forth above comprise, in addition to the two supporting
posts and at least one individual movable platform, a screw in each
post, single and proper to each post, the screw serving as a
rectilinear drive element and actuated by a single independent
driving force through the linkage and carrier mechanism converting
the rotation of the screw into movements of displacement with
respect to the posts and into various inclinations of the
platform.
The various possibilities of carrying out the functions mentioned
above and their direct variants will be examined more particularly
below.
With reference to the figures as a whole, the basic means of the
present invention may be set forth as follows.
A unitary carrier assembly 1 is accomplished by joining to a frame
2 two supporting posts 3 and 4 parallel to one another and vertical
or slightly inclined. Each supporting post includes at least one
screw such as 5 or 6 on which is mounted a linkage and carrier
mechanism and, more particularly, a translation device 7 or 8.
The screw is single per post and is actuated by a single driving
force, proper to each post itself, associated with its linkage and
carrier mechanism.
The two translation devices 7 and 8 ensure swivel and, if
necessary, swivel-sliding supporting linkage with a movable carrier
platform 9, of traditional form or of particular characteristics,
by way of a swivel pin 10 or 11 associated, if necessary, with a
sliding block.
The movable platform 9 is capable of compound movements of
inclination and displacement with respect to the posts
longitudinally and transversely to the latter solely by control of
simultaneous operation of screws 5 and 6 from the one and only
driving force, for example an electric motor.
The exact location of the swivel pin 10 or 11 of the platform with
the corresponding translation and swivel device 7 or 8 matters very
little, insofar as the latter does not limit the nature of the
movements.
The translation and swivel device will now be described in a
general way.
The said device is composed of a translation assembly 12 movable
along the corresponding screw and carried by the latter, as well as
an inclined articulated linkage 13 connecting the platform to the
movable assembly.
The movable translation assembly 12 is made up of an upper block 14
and of a lower block 15 mounted on the one and only screw 5 or 6
per post and per platform. The upper block 14 establishes the
swivel linkage with the platform and the lower block establishes
the swivel articulation with one end of the inclined articulated
linkage 13 so as to realize a triangular assembly articulated at
three swivel points.
For the purpose of clarity, the three points of articulation will
be designated by the letters A, B, C, referring respectively to the
points situated on the blocks 14 and 15 and on the platform at the
end of the inclined linkage 13.
The present invention covers the different variants of linkage and
carrier mechanisms, represented in FIGS. 2 to 15. The following
variants are shown:
FIGS. 2 and 3:
AB of constant length
BC of variable length
permitting all movements of translation and swivel of the
platform;
FIGS. 4 and 5:
AB of variable length
BC of fixed length
permitting all movements of translation and swivel of the
platform;
FIGS. 6 and 7:
AB of variable length
BC of fixed length
permitting all movements of translation and swivel of the
platform;
FIGS. 8 and 9:
AB of constant length
BC of variable length
permitting all movements of translation and swivel of the
platform;
FIGS. 10 and 11:
AB of constant length
BC of constant length
permitting a simple parallel displacement of the platform;
FIGS. 12 and 13:
AB of constant length
BC of constant length
permitting a simple parallel displacement of the platform;
FIGS. 14 and 15:
AB of variable length
BC of constant length
associated with a sliding mechanism of the platform, permitting all
the desired movements of the platform with regard to a horizontal
axis.
As will be seen below, according to the variants, the blocks 14 and
15 will be constituted differently so as to permit variation in
distance between A and B and, if necessary, variation in length of
the linkage BC.
Depending upon the case, the elements carried by the screws are
nuts 16 permanent or selective engagement with the screw or sliding
sleeves 17.
The cages such as 18 and 19 respectively of the nuts and sleeves
are furnished laterally with shoes 20 and 21 sliding along the
posts 2 and 3 in order to secure immobilization of the nut in
rotation on itself and then the alignment and stability of
longitudinal movements.
According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the upper block 14 is a nut
22 in permanent engagement with the screw. The cage 18 of the
latter is rigidly connected to the cage 19 of the lower block by a
cylinder 23. The latter is a sliding sleeve 17 traversed by the
screw. Hence the distance AB is kept mechanically constant.
The cage 19 of the sleeve 17 supports the articulation B of the
inclined linkage 13. The latter, according to this embodiment, is
extensible, accomplished for example in the form of a telescopic
rod 24 or by a jack constituting a functional equivalent
thereof.
Rotation of the screw acts on the nut 22 which is displaced by
translation upward or downward, carrying the sliding sleeve 17
along in its movements along the corresponding post by its
subjection to it by the cylinder 23.
Since the distance AB remains constant, the movements of
inclination are effected by extension or withdrawal of the
telescopic rod 24, which may be an active rod, jack or other, or by
the action of a lower stop 25 arranged at the bottom at the end of
the platform to produce a low end-of-travel inclination, for
example, an inclination corresponding to the loading position of
the vehicle.
The weight of the loaded vehicle will automatically push the rod
into retracted position, that is, reduce the distance BC to its
minimum value after an intermediate lifting phase in the course of
which the platform tilts downward.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 7, the inclined linkage 13
corresponds to a constant distance BC realized, for example, in the
form of a rigid rod 26, that is, of fixed length.
The variations of inclination are provided by increases or
decreases of the distance AB, accomplished in two different ways
corresponding to the variants represented in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6,
7.
The first variant comprises the same blocks, nut 22 and sliding
sleeve 17 as the one previously described.
According to a preferred embodiment, the arrangement is inverted:
the nut 22 in lower position and the sliding sleeve 17 in upper
position.
An external limit linkage 27 is established simply in the form of,
for example, a rigid pin 28 firmly joined at one of its ends to the
cage 18 of the nut 22 by means of a connecting plate 29 and guided
slidably by a tab 30 in one piece with the cage 19 of the sliding
sleeve 17 or any other equivalent means, for example a chain or a
cable.
In order to limit the distance apart of the two blocks, a stop, for
example a bulge 31 or any other means, is provided at the end of
the pin 28.
In operation, the distance AB is established at its maximum value
by the weight of the platform empty or loaded being reflected by
the action of the swivel couple on the sleeve in upper position,
producing the correlative rise of the latter along the screw over a
distance ending at the end stop 31 of the pin 28, thus determining
the inclination of the platform in its extreme low position.
This inclination is maintained in the rise-lifting phase until the
high end-of-travel position of the platform by the action of a high
point of support, for example, a stop 32, against which the end of
the upper face of the platform comes to bear to cause it to tilt
upward (as represented by the arrows), by the effect of the couple
resulting from the push upward of the lower nut.
The variant represented in FIGS. 6 and 7 obtains the same effects
without requiring the presence of a tilt stop in high position.
It comprises a lower block 15 in the form of a nut 33 similar to
the nut 22 in permanent engagement on the screw. The upper block is
a known disengageable nut 34, for example, of the type conceived
and protected by the applicant.
The disengageable nut 34 permits selective engagement of the nut on
the screw from an exterior release or engagement control. Thus,
simply by acting on this control, one may, by engagement or
release, cause the distance AB to vary during rotation of the screw
and thus determine the inclination of the platform.
In practice, only the high and low end-of-travel inclinations are
utilized in use in vehicle transport. In effect, the inclination of
the low position corresponds to loading, that is, to ascent of the
vehicle onto the platform and the inclination of the high position
to the presentation of the vehicle during transport.
It then suffices to program the disengageable-nut control before
arrival in these extreme positions, high and low, for the
inclination to be at its predetermined high and low end-of-travel
value.
Another variant represented in FIGS. 8 and 9 presents identical
blocks, upper 14 and lower 15, realized in the form of nuts such as
those designated 22. The inclined linkage 13 is of variable length
in the form of a telescopic rod, for example the one already
designated 24, or a jack.
These nuts, of identical pitch, carried along by the same screw,
are displaced from one another at a constant distance. Hence AB
remains constant in length.
Since BC is variable, an operating configuration in platform
position similar to that of the first variant is found. The
movements of inclination of the platform are effected by extension
or withdrawal of the telescopic rod 24 or of its replacement
jack.
Thus, in low position contact with a bottom stop 35 begins
inclination and the length of extension of the rod determines the
amplitude of the inclination and the final low-end-of-travel
presentation of the platform corresponding to the loading position
of the vehicle.
As for the first variant, the weight of the vehicle loaded will
automatically force the telescopic rod into retracted position
downward, that is, reduce the distance BC to its minimum value,
after a first lifting displacement, which will raise the platform
from its bottom limit support, is carried out.
The platform will tilt accordingly to maintain this inclination
until in high end-of-travel position or until a possible second
stop 36 represented in dashes can raise the platform by
tilting.
The variants represented in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, 13 are simplified
variants which permit a translation only at fixed inclination.
In effect, according to these variants, the two blocks, upper 14
and lower 15, are either identical, realized in the form of nuts
such as those already designated 22, or different, connected by a
rigid cylinder, for example, the one already designated 23. The
inclined linkage 13 presents a rod of fixed length 26 each
time.
The nuts, of identical pitch, carried along by the same screw, are
displaced at a constant distance apart, AB and BC remaining
constant in length. The movements of the screw produce a general
longitudinal displacement along the posts.
In the same way, the cylinder 23 maintains the blocks 14 and 15 at
a constant distance apart.
A variation comprising a supplementary translation mechanism 37 is
represented in FIGS. 14 and 15.
This variant proceeds from the same general inventive concept
according to which the movements of the carrier platform are
obtained from a single screw per post, the screw being drawn into
rotation by a single driving force.
Thus, according to this variant, movements of displacement of the
platform transversely to the carrier posts are obtained in
addition.
According to this variant, the blocks, upper 14 and lower 15, are
realized in the form of two disengageable nuts 38 and 39.
The articulated linkage 13 is a rod of fixed length such as the one
already designated 26.
The carrier linkage between the platform and the post is of the
swivel-sliding type by means of a sliding block or a shoe 40 on
which an edge section 41 of the platform is displaced.
The assembly is completed by a sliding mechanism 42 realized by an
articulated linkage 43 in the form of an inclined rod 44
articulated on the platform on the one hand and, on the other, on a
block, for example, an upper nut 45 similar to those already
described, thus establishing a supplementary triangulation
designated DAF, D being the articulation with the screw and F with
the platform.
The movements in inclination and in displacement of the platform
along facing carrier posts result from selective control of
engagement or disengagement of the disengageable nuts 38 and
39.
For purposes of programming and coordination of movements, the
sliding movements of the platform have been directly subjected to
those of the screw by means of the nut 45 and of the articulated
linkage 43 of constant length.
The presence of disengageable nuts makes it possible to obtain and
to select separately all possible movements of the platform:
parallel displacement alone when all nuts are engaged;
swivel alone when only the lower nut is engaged;
sliding alone when the two disengageable nuts are out of
engagement.
In addition, by acting on the individual controls, all combinations
of the preceding movements may be effected.
Of course, other methods of operation prove to be possible when the
nut 45 is replaced by the variuos blocks examined--translation
sleeve, disengageable nut--and the linkage 43 is replaced by a
telescopic rod or a jack constituting its functional
equivalent.
As may be seen in FIGS. 16 to 19, one specific application concerns
loading and support of automobiles during transport on an
automobile transport vehicle.
It is readily understood that the invention offers multiple
possibilities of inclination of automobiles in transport position,
making it possible to take advantage of the free volume in the
wheel base, under the front and under the rear of the vehicles
transported.
Further, the inclinations of the platforms in extreme positions,
high and low, may be predetermined and identical to each stop of
the screw at the end of travel in lifting or descent.
Finally, a single control suffices to automatically put a vehicle
in place in its transport position, taking account of the relative
positions of other automobiles to be loaded with the object of a
maximum loading coefficient.
The numerous advantages of these unitary carrier and lifting
assemblies make them particularly suitable for automobile transport
vehicles.
The invention has been described above in detail. However, it is
understood that various simple modifications, additions, direct
variants and/or substitutions by equivalent means fall within the
scope of the present protection. It is therefore to be understood
that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described
herein.
* * * * *